Defense Maverick Is Asked to Swiftly Size Up Military

The Bush administration has asked one of the Pentagon’s most unconventional thinkers to conduct a sweeping review of the U.S. military, in the clearest indication yet that senior officials intend to shake up the nation’s armed forces and the weapons they use.

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld has asked Andrew Marshall, head of the Pentagon’s internal think tank, to deliver his preliminary recommendations by the end of next week, sources said.

Although he is little known to the public, Marshall is a controversial figure in defense circles for his outspoken criticism of some of the traditional pillars of U.S. strategy and procurement policy. He has questioned the usefulness of the new F-22 fighter, the crown jewel of the Air Force’s current acquisition program, and called the Army’s heavy tanks and the Navy’s aircraft carriers possible deathtraps that ought to be phased out before they prove to be the horse cavalry of the 21st century.

Marshall has a long and close association with Rumsfeld, and his appointment was viewed by senior Pentagon officials as the second clear sign in the past week that the new Defense secretary plans to make a dramatic impression on the military. President Bush pledged during his election campaign to improve the quality of the armed forces, and aides said he plans to spend most of next week visiting military bases and laying out his ideas.

Yet Bush stunned some senior commanders this week by deciding not to seek an immediate increase in the defense budget. Before providing new funds, Rumsfeld informed the top brass Tuesday, the administration wants a fundamental review of the U.S. military’s strategy, structure and missions.

Pentagon officials said Rumsfeld has an understanding--though not a promise--that once the study is finished, Bush will support as big an increase in the defense budget as he deems necessary.

The review is on an extraordinarily fast track. Rumsfeld gave Marshall the assignment Tuesday. Marshall is to send an initial report to Rumsfeld next week and end the review by the middle of March.

Bush said Monday that the goal is to set a “long-range vision for the military.”